13 June 2017 - PHARMAC is pleased to announce the approval of proposals for various oncology pharmaceuticals, including new listings and amendments to funding restrictions, to take effect from 1 July 2017.

This was the subject of a consultation letter dated 8 May 2017.

The proposal was approved as consulted on except for a delay in the implementation date for the thalidomide claiming category change. This change will take effect on 1 August 2017 to allow the claiming process changes to be communicated with the sector and enable a transition plan to be developed for any patients with part scripts already dispensed.

In summary, the effect of the decision is that:

• Erlotinib (Tarceva) and gefitinib (Iressa) funding criteria will be widened to permit patients with non-small cell lung cancer to switch between treatments at any time due to intolerance.
  
• Nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) funding criteria for treatment of patients with advanced melanoma will be amended to add a requirement for patients to have an ECOG performance status score of 0-2.
  
• A new 15 mg capsule strength of lenalidomide (Revlimid) will be listed from 1 July 2017.
  
• Thalidomide (Thalomid) claiming category will be changed from “PCT only” to “Retail pharmacy” from 1 August 2017.
  

Read PHARMAC press release